an American holiday

near Irvine
see all photos »

Hey Yall.  July 3, Morning was terrible with hills but the last hour or two was just beautiful. Made it safe and sound to Irvine. Stayed in a motel, had a shower and dinner.

Happy 4th of July Day! I got up and out by early, waited just long enough to hear a most wonderful poem by a soldier in Iraq on NPR. It was called “The Cat.” Somber and beautiful. This may be the best part of my bike trip so far with very gentle rolling terrain with lots of forest and farm variety. Arrived in Berea and set up my tent at noon. Went down town where they were having a fair - hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy and blow up castle - an American holiday. They set up a skate park for the kids to practice their skateboard tricks. The best of them all was a tiny kid all decked out with pads of every sort. (Most thought they were too cool for pads.) I’m thinking that there was a clear connection between his pads and his skill: He learned harder stunts because he wasn’t afraid to try harder stunts. There’s a good metaphor for life in there somewhere - something about achieving greatness if you’re not afraid. Later I went to the high school to watch the fireworks. This band was playing great American classic rock. Their last tune was my song: Proud Mary, or as I'll always remember it 'Roden on the River.'

skate park
see all photos »

Boom!